Aerial shot of a large white building with green grass and gardens surrounding it

Bewilderwood to take over stewardship of Brockhole on Windermere from 2026

22nd May 2026

Protecting what locals love, with new family additions to follow.

In 2026, Brockhole on Windermere will enter an exciting new chapter as the company behind the national woodland adventure and story-based park, Bewilderwood, takes over stewardship of the much-loved Lakes site.

For local families, walkers, swimmers and supporters, the message is simple: Brockhole will remain Brockhole. A welcoming place to visit, enjoy the lakeshore, access the grounds, enjoy Zip World and take a boat ride - all the things that have become part of life in the Lake District.

Bewilderwood’s plans are rooted in the same values that make Brockhole special: nature, wellbeing, imagination and family time outdoors. The site will still provide the public amenities that locals know and love, while carefully introducing new elements over time that are designed to improve the site, making it the premier destination for families within the National Park.

What Bewilderwood is (and isn’t)

Bewilderwood is best known for woodland play, story-led adventures and family experiences, with two established parks set within the Norfolk Broads and Cheshire countryside. The parks are based on a series of children’s books by author and creator Tom Blofeld. The whole essence of Bewilderwood is magical, whimsical and wholesome. It’s a place where kids can be kids; splash in puddles, build dens and clamber over exciting wooden structures.

Bewilderwood will not be building a large-scale park in the Lake District, instead adding new play elements to Brockhole. These include a new indoor play and sensory adventure, ideal for rainy days and an outdoor adventure playground made of sustainable timber. They will also be supporting families to engage with the natural history on the site with new history and nature trails that make use of Bewilderwood’s colourful cast of characters to get families excited about the outdoors.

Over time, the site will become even more of a destination for the whole family: somewhere that works for everyone, from babies to grandparents, with a balance of calm spaces, active play, and indoor options for the changeable Lake’s weather!

A spokesperson for Bewilderwood commented,

"Bewilderwood is thrilled to be taking on the Brockhole on Windermere site, it could not be a more perfect venue for a Bewilderwood. There is a lot of doom and gloom in the news about our sector these days, so it is wonderful to see that the independent, imagination driven play that we provide is breaking through and growing in popularity. We are also extremely excited to be making our first foray into indoor play, taking the same spirit of adventure and exploration found in our parks and translating it into the iconic White House at Brockhole.”

Gavin Capstick, chief executive for the Lake District National Park Authority, said:

“We are delighted to welcome Bewilderwood as the new operator for Brockhole on Windermere, as they take on the lease of this much-loved site from the Lake District National Park Authority. Bewilderwood’s imaginative, family-focused approach to adventure in nature aligns with our ambition to ensure Brockhole remains a destination for families to easily access their National Park. We are confident that they will sensitively care for Brockhole and respect for the site’s unique heritage and setting, including continued public access. We look forward to working together to enhance the visitor experience while protecting the special qualities that make Brockhole such an important place for our communities and visitors alike.”

2026
1. April
  - Bewilderwood takes over stewardship of Brockhole
  - Day-to-day running remains familiar and accessible
  - Focus on maintaining what already works well and supporting key events
2. Summer
  - A new indoor play offer is planned to open later in 2026 (designed for all-weather family visits)
  - White House catering re-opens
3. 2027
  - Bewilderwood-style outdoor play element to open, designed to blend with the woodland and landscape
  All timings are estimates and will be shaped by planning, consultations, site considerations and making sure changes are done in the right way.

Q&A about the changes

Yes. Local access remains a priority. Brockhole will continue to be a place locals can visit and enjoy in the way they do now, with the same welcoming spirit.

No. Bewilderwood is not a rollercoaster-style theme park. The experiences are nature-based, with woodland play, simple imaginative, primarily wooden, structures, and story-led elements that are designed to feel at home in the Lake District landscape.

Yes. The intention is to run the site in a similar way and protect what people already love, while introducing additions gradually and thoughtfully.

Yes. Like its current set up visitors will pay for parking and have access to the grounds, walkways and onsite cafes. Like Zip World and Windermere Lake Cruises, there will be an additional charge for the indoor play and the outdoor Bewilderwood adventure park. These are of course optional.

The approach is phased. Early additions are planned to be light-touch and family friendly, such as seasonal pop-up events, followed by an indoor play offer later in 2026.

Outdoor Bewilderwood-style elements are planned to begin opening in 2027, but we hope to offer “pop-up” style Bewilderwood events across the summer of 2026.

Any development will be guided by the environment and the character of the site and will abide by the strict guidelines laid out by the LDNPA. Bewilderwood’s style is to work with nature, not against it, and additions will be designed to be sympathetic to the landscape. In fact, we hope to designate new, larger, areas within the site as spaces for nature to flourish.

Yes. A key aim is balance, maintaining Brockhole as a place for walks, views and café breaks and lakeside visits while also improving its appeal as a destination for the whole-family.

Yes, the current free-to-access park will remain open through to the end of 2026. It will then close for a short period in the winter and early spring of 2027 while it is relocated closer to the lakeshore.

No, while there will still be public access to the lakeshore the water sports activities will cease operation in 2026. We may explore these activities in the future.

School trips will continue to be delivered on site by the LDNPA’s outdoor learning team and bookings, on-site tenant operators, Zip World and Windermere Lake Cruises, will be unaffected by the changes.